Can I have another soldier take my spot to PCS?

2021-02-03T23:27:57-05:00

I just got orders to Korea, but I just bought a house and am newly married,was told I’m not aloud to come back to carson after Korea. I’m
stressing the hell out and my leadership isn’t really helping me at all. But I have a buddy of mine who is willing to go to Korea, he’s single same rank, been in almost the same amount of time as me is he able to take my spot in Korea?

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Feb 3 at 2021 11:39 PM

2021-02-03T23:39:02-05:00

I seriously doubt it. It's one of the "joys" of being in the military. You get settled into an area, you're enjoying your time off, have activities on or off post that you enjoy doing, and then BAM! time to pack up and move. You may or may not return to Carson, if I remember right there is a way to request it during your levy briefing. It's still no guarentee though. Good luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2021 11:44 PM

2021-02-03T23:44:41-05:00

If your window is open, or will be open during Korea, I would suggest trying to reenlist for duty station of choice.

As far as another soldier taking your spot per se... I've never heard of that and highly doubt you could do it by any regulation. But if it were doable, you'd have to talk to branch.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 12:03 AM

2021-02-04T00:03:49-05:00

I don't know if it's different between Os and Es, but there is definitely such a thing for us. Provided you are both assignment eligible, and you don't want to go to the ROK, what you have to do is find someone of the same rank & MOS who is on orders to a place YOU would like to go. At HRC it's called a "one for one" swap.
In your case of actually wanting to stay at Carson, good luck finding a guy who wants to go to ROK instead of Carson.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 5:49 AM

2021-02-04T05:49:53-05:00

I'm National Guard, so this isn't my area of expertise. However, I just read a similar question a few months ago about a one-on-one swap in a situation like yours. I recommend using the search feature to hunt it down. If I remember correctly, the just was that you can request a swap provided both soldiers agree, BUT all associate travel costs then fall to the soldiers... So not HHG, DTS, or permissive leave, etc.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2021 8:59 AM

2021-02-04T08:59:58-05:00

No, you cannot. If your buddy of the same rank, MOS, and time on station wants to switch, you guys can call the branch manager. But these days branch managers have to follow the guidelines they are given and can't just swap Soldiers around like they used to.

Nobody said you aren't allowed to return to Carson. You simply were not given a HAAP to Carson. You can always reenlist for Carson once you're in Korea. If you're newly married you can even bring your spouse

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Feb 4 at 2021 3:17 PM

2021-02-04T15:17:05-05:00

Just so you aware in case you do get the switch, nothing is preventing you from coming out on the next list which can be a few months later or a year from now. Needs of the Army is like flipping a coin some days.

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Feb 4 at 2021 5:35 PM

2021-02-04T17:35:18-05:00

I did just that; however, it took two months and going to the Director of Assignments. We were the same rank, year group, and most important MOS [for Air Force that is AFSC]. NOTE: I did get an assignment two years later. Good luck.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Feb 4 at 2021 7:37 PM

2021-02-04T19:37:02-05:00

Can't speak for the Army but I did see it in the Marines where two guys were both same MOS (2531 Radio Operators) and they let them switch. It did require approval from above. Most likely that would be a high command decision. Good Luck. I hope it works out for you.